Premiere: Wavetest – Zappelon

Described in the liner notes as a “true family affair,” Phantom Island‘s first release of 2018 comes straight out of the inner sanctum. Comprising of co-founder Kejeblos, his brother CCO, David Sele, Roger Szedalik and Sandro Nardi, each and every one of these old friends has contributed to something on the label (Szedalik notably played guitar on Fuga Ronto’s palatial debut, Invisible Escape). A long time coming – the only Wavetest record to date dropped eight years ago on Drumpoet Community – you can understand the label’s excitement to get this one out. Entering sun-dappled, Balearic territory, it also represents a marker in the band’s evolution.

Occupying the A2 slot, ‘Zappelon’ is quintessential Phantom Island: massaging grooves heavy on breezy live instrumentation are present across three tracks, but never quite as mesmeric as here. Like all good Balearic beat should, the combination of soaring pads, ringing guitar, low-slung bass and mellifluous acid line puts you top deck of an imagined pleasure cruise.

Wrong Planet is out soon on Phantom Island – pre-order the vinyl here.